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by
Megan Mazurek

The Air Force may be transferring all of their F-16 jets from Eielson Air Force base to JBER.

Last week the Air Force issued a paper on their plans., and it's raising some concerns that the Fairbanks base may seriously cut back jobs or maybe even close down.

Eielson officials say that the the proposal is meant to work with the budget cuts the base is facing, however, the proposal doesn't say how moving the jets to Anchorage will do that.

"In that proposal that documents different changes to the work force for the air force," said Lt. Evette Wissler, an Air Force public affairs officer. "Who I believe to fit into the budget constraints that we may be facing."

The Air Force has not yet given official orders to move the jets.

In release sent on behalf of Senator Mark Begich and Senator Lisa Murkowski:

U.S. Senators Mark Begich (D-Alaska) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Leon Panette expressing their concern over an Air Force proposal to move the 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks to Joint Base-Elmendorf Richardson in Anchorage.

Sens. Begich and Murkowski yesterday introduced legislation in the Senate designed to prevent the Air Force from implementing the F-16 move. The Alaska Congressional Delegation will meet with U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz on Thursday to further discuss the Air Force’s plan and question the reasoning.

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